Ever since the birth of the UFC mixed martial arts has become all the rage. Martial arts films are no different. Instead of the various fighting styles that used to grace the silver screen, the majority of them used mixed martial arts as preferred fighting and or storyline. Most of the time they are just straight out fighting movies with a bit of a storyline, but focusing more on the fighting itself, when it was released Warrior was different. Now Lionsgate is putting the film back in the ring with an all-new 4K Ultra HD release.

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Warrior follows Tommy Riordan, who returns to his hometown of Pittsburgh and enlists his father, a recovered alcoholic and his former coach, to train him for an MMA tournament awarding the biggest purse in the history of the sport. As Tommy blazes a violent path towards the title prize, his brother, Brendan, a former MMA fighter unable to make ends meet as a public school teacher, returns to the amateur ring to provide for his family. Even though years have passed, recriminations and past betrayals keep Brendan bitterly estranged from both Tommy and his father. But when Brendan's unlikely rise as an underdog sets him on a collision course with Tommy, the two brothers must finally confront the forces that tore them apart, all the while waging the most intense, winner-takes-all battle of their lives. This is an amazing film. Although the basis for the story is mixed martial arts, it is not the story itself. Instead of just guys fighting to win something, these characters are fighting with a purpose that is more than just themselves.

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The in ring fighting is not the only war going on, there is a bigger inner family fight that is the true heart to this movie. Everyone gives great performances, especially Nick Nolte in a heart breaking emotional scene that would be no surprise if it garnered him an Oscar nomination. Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton both become these characters both in and out of the ring. They both give great performances and both deliver believably in the ring. The fights here are intense and well executed. What worked even more about this film is that you knew what was going to happen and where it was going, but somehow the filmmakers still managed to keep you on the edge of your seat wondering.

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This movie is full of action, emotion and pain and works on every level. It falls into the tradition of Rocky and The Wrestler and easily surpasses both on some levels. Both Edgerton and Hardy have showcased their talents in numerous films since this film was released in 2011, but is still one of my favorites of them both. This release not only features the film in beautiful 4K HD it also features numerous bonus content including featurettes, a gag reel, commentary and more. Return to the ring for one more round when Warrior debuts on 4K Ultra HD from Lionsgate Home Entertainment.